Rasmussen fears top riders are doping


In a chat with the readers of the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet, Michael Rasmussen said that he hoped none of the top riders in the peleton was doping, but their achievements in the mountains do raise questions.

 

The Danish rider was suspended for two years in 2007 for failing to provide whereabout information, and in 2013 after admitting to using doping throughout his career. On June 23 he was participating in a chat with the readers of the Danish newspaper. The chat can be found in Danish here: http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/cykling/article5619998.ece This happened on the same day as Antidoping Denmark published a report based on interviews of Rasmussen and other cyclists. A reader asked: Do you think top riders (Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali) use doping? - I hope not. The problem is that they have the history against them. Especially when they decide to ride the mountains faster than Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich and me. All the riders mentioned with Rasmussen has been banned for doping. Only Contador has a history of an anti-doping rule violation. Low risk of being caught Rasmussen is being asked by a reader if a cyclist is taking a big risk when he is using doping during the Tour de France. The danish rider answered that the risk is immensely small: - Riders, sports directors or doctors are monitored 24 hours a day. A blood transfusion takes 15-20 minutes. It's very easy. He also explains to another reader how easy it is to do blood transfusions yourself. - It's quite simple. You use a blood bag which costs 100 danish kroner (approximately 10 euro) and a refridgerator. The dane is currently working as a writer for the danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet and in Hedensted municipaltiy. Doping doctors still active Another reader asks if some of the doctors Rasmussen has received cortisone from are active today. Rasmussen answers that some of the doctors are active on different teams. The danish climber was also asked if he thinks cycling will become clean. Michael Rasmussen answers: - Doping has existed in cycling since the start of Tour de France in 1903, and is highly likely existing today also. It will take a long time to change a culture, and there will always be riders in the field who has extreme wishes to win and are willing to break the rules. Riis is holding back information Michael Rasmussen believes Riis has not told the whole truth to the Danish anti-doping authorities: - He has not told anything about his involvemen in Operation Puerto, or and the circumstances of Frank Schlec and Ivan Basso. It would have been nice to have uncovered it. And then all the other denials, the investigation group they find interrogated more credible than Bjarne Riis, thus indicating that he is lying. Regarding the report, Michael Rasmussen is not surprised about the content or the outcome: - I am not surprised. I didn't have the greatest expectations. It should have uncovered Riis role regarding Operation Puerto, and it would also been beneficial to know who has been interviewed and who rejected.

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